10 best international retirement havens

American retirees looking for ways to stretch their dollar can look afar—by retiring overseas. The top retirement spots in the world this year have a variety of cultural offerings, climates and lifestyles. Each destination is desirable in its own way, but they all offer something increasingly hard to come by at home: A good quality of life for a reasonable price. International Living.com chose these top retirement destinations, based on eight categories: real estate, special retirement benefits, cost of living, ease of integration, entertainment and amenities, health care, retirement infrastructure and climate. Cost of living includes items such as utilities, groceries, cable TV, housekeepers and real estate and rentals. Take a look at International Living’s 10 best countries in which to retire:

Erik1980/Wikipedia

Slide 2 of 12

10. Malta

Malta has the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, a warm and sunny climate and a peaceful lifestyle. Anchored almost in the center of the Mediterranean, 60 miles from the Italian island of Sicily, Malta isn’t a mainstream destination for North American tourists. The big question is, what can this island offer you as a prospective resident? Well, how about a tranquil way of life and virtually nonexistent crime? Year-round Mediterranean sunshine? The opportunity to benefit from a considerable reduction in your tax burden?

Shutterstock

Slide 3 of 12

9. Thailand

From the golden beaches to the fabulous food and friendly people it’s easy to see why Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. It’s also the land of affordable living. The country has a lot of options. Some foreign retirees choose to live in the hubbub atmosphere of Bangkok. Some live in the north of Thailand where life is quiet, peaceful, and very inexpensive. Others choose the south for its beautiful beaches.

Wikipedia

Slide 4 of 12

8. Spain

Retiring in Spain is an increasingly popular option for many expats looking for a retirement that combines European luxuries and charms with the sun and sand of Spain’s famous beaches. For Europeans, the Costa del Sol is the most popular part of the Spanish coastline to buy, rent, or invest in real estate. Part of Andalusia province, the infrastructure of Costa del Sol is excellent: international schools, first-class medical facilities, and there’s certainly no problem finding real estate agents, doctors, and lawyers who speak English. At left, Granada.

Amra Pasic/Shutterstock

Slide 5 of 12

7. Colombia

If you retire to Colombia you’ll enjoy dramatic Andean peaks and valleys, with hundred-mile views and some of the world’s best weather. Colombia has some of Latin America’s most beautiful colonial cities, one of its most-fascinating and rich cultures, long stretches of beautiful beaches, and one of civilization’s few remaining walled cities. Retirement in Colombia means hours of outdoor dining, coffee in sidewalk cafes and a casually-elegant metropolitan lifestyle.

Shutterstock

Slide 6 of 12

6. Uruguay

While expats in Uruguay say their cost of living is not cheap, they also say they wouldn’t consider living anywhere else. Savings are huge, not just on public transport, but on big-ticket items like health care and health insurance, property taxes, and wine. Retirees who own their own home or apartment and don’t have car-related costs say they can live comfortably in Uruguay on about $2,000 a month. At left, Colonia.

Daniel Korzeniewski/Shutterstock

Slide 7 of 12

5. Costa Rica

Retirees in Costa Rica are called pensionados. The country’s requirement of income of $1,000 per month from Social Security or a pension means that getting residence is easy enough that just about anybody can do it, according to International Living. Residents can join the universal health-care system, known as Caja. The cost, based on income, can be as low as $49 a month. After that, care is free. At left, the central market in San Jose, Costa Rica, a popular attraction and the biggest market in the city with more than 10,000 daily visitors.

Shutterstock

Slide 8 of 12

4. Mexico

For American expats, Mexico is an easy, convenient choice, a largely developed country at bargain prices, right on their doorstep. Today’s Mexico offers modern highways and airports, cable and satellite TV, Internet, and other goodies expats enjoy at home. Want a big U.S.-style washer and dryer or a monster refrigerator? No problem in Mexico—you’ll even find familiar brands. Yet the overall cost of living can be as little as half what you’d pay in the U.S. or Canada. Health care costs a quarter to half of what you’d pay in the U.S. If you hold a valid residence visa, you can sign up for Mexico’s national health-care system—which has a top cost of about $300 a year. At left, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Shutterstock

Slide 9 of 12

3. Malaysia

Malaysia’s weather is a tropical 82 degrees F. year round and the beaches, islands and jungles are pristine. It has some of the region’s best street food, great restaurants, bars, shopping malls and movie theaters—and it’s all affordable. Malaysia’s an easy place to make friends and integrate, as English is the unofficial first language. Penang and Kuala Lumpur are known as medical centers of excellence and every day medical tourists arrive in Malaysia for various treatments. The health care is good and among the world’s cheapest. At left, Kuala Lumpur.

Shutterstock

Slide 10 of 12

2. Panama

Panama is full of English speakers, the U.S. dollar is the currency, and the country is outside the hurricane belt. But many retirees choose Panama for the friendly people, the rain forest and the beaches. Where else can you swim in the Pacific after breakfast and in the Atlantic before dinner—on the same day? Panama’s major draw is its Pensionado (pensioner) visa. Qualified pensioners can get residence fairly quickly and are entitled to local retiree discounts on medical consultations, prescriptions, restaurants and admission to movies, theaters, and such. Nearly every aspect of life comes with a discount. At left, Panama City.

Cayambe/Wikipedia

Slide 11 of 12

1. Ecuador

Ecuador offers the best-value real estate in the world. But for many, the true draw is the climate. Ecuador lies on the equator. The beaches are tropical, but up in the Andes, the weather is mild and springlike year-round, making this the number one country to retire in 2013. Ecuador’s major cities have top-notch hospitals, clinics and well-trained physicians. Residents are eligible to participate in the country’s Social Security health care system for low monthly premiums. Seniors who are residents of Ecuador qualify for half price entertainment and local transport, discounted airfares, and refunds of sales tax. Out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits, procedures, and drugs are a fraction of the cost in the U.S. A beer costs 85 cents and dinner out $2.50. Ecuador is also one of the best countries for an expat business startup. There are expats running restaurants, gyms, schools and making money through import-export.

Cayambe/Wikipedia

Slide 12 of 12

1. Ecuador

Ecuador offers the best-value real estate in the world. But for many, the true draw is the climate. Ecuador lies on the equator. The beaches are tropical, but up in the Andes, the weather is mild and springlike year-round, making this the number one country to retire in 2013. Ecuador’s major cities have top-notch hospitals, clinics and well-trained physicians. Residents are eligible to participate in the country’s Social Security health care system for low monthly premiums. Seniors who are residents of Ecuador qualify for half price entertainment and local transport, discounted airfares, and refunds of sales tax. Out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits, procedures, and drugs are a fraction of the cost in the U.S. A beer costs 85 cents and dinner out $2.50. Ecuador is also one of the best countries for an expat business startup. There are expats running restaurants, gyms, schools and making money through import-export.

Intraday Data provided by SIX Financial Information and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Financial Information. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.